Report on Disaster Events

This report contains a list of disaster events that occurred across the world during the stated reporting periods. The events listed do not represent all disaster events that occurred and includes only events meeting set criteria and where our researchers were able to find relevant information. Only events meeting the following criteria were included in this report:

10+ people killed in the event;

100+ people affected by the event; or

where a state of disaster or similar declaration was made.

Please submit any information of events not listed in this report through our contact form.

Disaster Events: 1 – 31 October 2017

Over 17 people killed as boat capsizes in River Niger

CLASSIFICATION: Technological – Transport accident – Water

DATE: 4 October 2017

WHERE: Northeast Nigeria

KILLED: At least 17

INJURED: None

DISPLACED: None

DESCRIPTION: At least 17 people have reportedly died in Northeast Nigeria as a boat capsized in the River Niger region. Reports indicated that the boat, which was overloaded with passengers who weren’t wearing any lifejackets, smashed into a tree trunk.

16 People Killed in a bus-train collision in Russia

CLASSIFICATION: Technological – Transport accident – Road/Rail

DATE: 6 October 2017

WHERE: Vladimir, Russia

KILLED: 16

INJURED: None

DISPLACED: None

DESCRIPTION: A bus/train collision that happened in Russia claimed the lives of at least 16 people. According to reports, the bus driver ignored the red light and attempted to cross the railway but unfortunately suffered engine failure. Nobody on the train was injured in the accident.

DESCRIPTION: Over 40 people have died in Northern California as wildfire destroys thousands of homes and businesses. The affected counties include Mendocino, Napa, Sonoma, and Yuba, forcing a state of emergency to be declared. Although the fire has been contained, over 40,000 still remain displaced.

Flood and landslides kill at least 54 in Vietnam

DESCRIPTION: Floods and landslides have killed at least 54 people in the Yên Bái and Hòa Bình provinces in Vietnam. Over 20,000 houses have either been destroyed or submerged in water as a result. Livestock and agricultural produce such as rice have also been lost.

Over 350 people killed in a truck explosion that rocked Mogadishu, the Capital of Somalia

CLASSIFICATION: Technological – Miscellaneous accident – Explosion

DATE: 14 October 2017

WHERE: Mogadishu, Somalia

KILLED: 358

INJURED: Over 400

DISPLACED: None

DESCRIPTION: A total of 358 people were killed in what is believed to be the worst terrorist attack in Somalia’s history. A truck filled with explosives detonated outside a hotel in the country’s capital, Mogadishu. The explosion happened in a busy area filled with many ministries, which contributed to the number of casualties recorded.

Scores of people dead and many more injured as wildfires ravage through Portugal and Spain

CLASSIFICATION: Natural – Climatological – Wildfire

DATE: 13 – 18 October 2017

WHERE: Portugal and Northern Spain

KILLED: At least 38

INJURED: 56

DISPLACED: Unknown

DESCRIPTION: Over 40 people have lost their lives and at least 56 were reportedly injured as wildfires ravaged through Portugal and parts of Northern Spain. The fires were said to have been further worsened by Hurricane Ophelia as it brought strong winds that ended up spreading the flames.

Fireworks factory explosion leaves 47 people dead and scores more injured in Indonesia

CLASSIFICATION: Technological – Industrial accident – Explosion

DATE: 26 October 2017

WHERE: Tangerang, Indonesia

KILLED: At least 47

INJURED: Over 40

DISPLACED: None

DESCRIPTION: An explosion in a fireworks industrial plant in Tangerang, a city located west of the Indonesian capital Jakarta, killed at least 47 people and injured over 40 others. According to reports, the explosion was caused by a welding spark that ignited the gunpowder used in making the fireworks.

At least 19 dead and 16 injured in central Nepal bus accident

CLASSIFICATION: Technological – Transport accident – Road

DATE: 28 October 2017

WHERE: Dhading district, Central Nepal

KILLED: At least 19

INJURED: At least 16

DISPLACED: None

DESCRIPTION: At least 19 people were killed and several others injured, when an overcrowded bus skidded off the road in the Dhading District and fell into the Trishuli River in central Nepal. Authorities said the driver might have been drunk, but they couldn’t question him as he had fled the scene before help could arrive.

Disaster Events: 1 – 30 September 2017

Over 300 people dead as earthquake hits Mexico City

CLASSIFICATION: Natural – Geophysical – Earthquake

DATE: 19 September 2017

WHERE: Mexico City, Puebla State, Mexico

KILLED: 360

INJURED: Unknown

DISPLACED: Unknown

DESCRIPTION: A 7.1 magnitude earthquake that hit the Mexico City has left hundreds of people dead, several injured and dozens displaced. Not to mention the millions of dollars worth of damage it has caused to properties across the country. The most heavily hit states are Puebla and Morelos.

Hurricane Maria leaves Puerto Rico devastated

CLASSIFICATION: Natural – Meteorological – Hurricane

DATE: 20 September 2017

WHERE: San Juan, Puerto Rico

KILLED: 30

INJURED: Unknown

DISPLACED: 500+

DESCRIPTION: In what has been described as the worst storm to hit Puerto Rico in 85 years, Hurricane Maria has left the country ravaged and devastated. When the storm hit, it knocked out power, destroyed houses and even flooded several parts of the country, including San Juan.

Over 20 people killed and hundreds affected as plague hits Madagascar

CLASSIFICATION: Natural – Biological – Epidemic

DATE: 11 September 2017

WHERE: Antananarivo, Madagascar

KILLED: 20+

INJURED: None

DISPLACED: None

DESCRIPTION: An outbreak of pulmonary plague in Madagascar has left several people dead over a hundred affected. The World Health Organization has warned that unless the plague is contained, the death toll is likely to rise. Currently, public gatherings have banned across the country and precautionary measures have been put in place to contain the infections.

Disaster Events: 1 – 31 August 2017

Tunisia forest fire leaves thousands displaced

CLASSIFICATION: Natural – Climatologically – Wildfire

DATE: 1 August 2017

WHERE: Tunisia, Jendouba Governate (northeast region of the country)

KILLED: None

INJURED: None

DISPLACED: 2,000

DESCRIPTION: Thousands of people have been forced to evacuate their homes as forest fire ravages the northeast region of Tunisia. The fire, which was believed to have been started by the extreme heat wave, has burned several houses, leaving over 2,000 people homeless.

DESCRIPTION: A mudslide on 14th August killed thousands of people in the mountain town of Regent, a few kilometres from Sierra Leone’s capital, Freetown. The mudslide occurred after three days of torrential rain, causing a hillside to collapse and overrun several homes, trapping hundreds of people inside.

Deadly Hurricane Harvey kills dozens and leaves 30,000 more displaced

CLASSIFICATION: Natural – Hydrological/Meteorological – Flood/Storm

DATE: 17 August 2017

WHERE: United States of America, Texas

KILLED: 50

INJURED: Unknown

DISPLACED: 32,000

DESCRIPTION: The month of August 2017 will be a memorable one in the minds of all Texans as what has been described a one in a ‘’500-year storm’’ hit several cities resulting in heavy flooding and several casualties. Already, over 32,000 people have been displaced, with some losing all their life’s property.

More than 100,000 displaced as flood ravages central Nigeria

CLASSIFICATION: Natural – Hydrological – Flood

DATE: 28 August 2017

WHERE: Nigeria, Benue State

KILLED: Unknown

INJURED: Several

DISPLACED: 110,000

DESCRIPTION: Hundreds of thousands of people have been left homeless, hopeless and hungry as heavy flooding swept through several local government areas of Benue State, including the state’s capital, Makurdi.

Heavy Flooding Displaces Thousands in Niamey, Niger

CLASSIFICATION: Natural – Hydrological – Flood

DATE: 28 August 2017

WHERE: Niger, Niamey

KILLED: 40+

INJURED: Unknown

DISPLACED: Thousands [exact figure unknown]

DESCRIPTION: Over 40 people have been killed and thousands more have been forced to evacuate their homes after heavy flooding sacked parts of Niamey, Niger. Furthermore, livestock, clean water and clean clothes have become inaccessible as a result, leaving hundreds of people in a dire situation.

DESCRIPTION: Monsoon rains have resulted in heavy flooding that has ravaged a third of Bangladesh, destroying houses, livestock and crops. Millions of people have been affected and over 140 people have already lost their lives as a result.

Disaster Events: 1 – 31 July 2017

Truck accident kills 78 people in the Central African Republic

CLASSIFICATION: Technological – Transport accident – Road

DATE: 5 July 2017

WHERE: Central African Republic, Bambari

KILLED: 78

INJURED: 72

DISPLACED: None

DESCRIPTION: A truck, heavily loaded with goods and passengers on its way to a local market, crashed after losing control in the Central African Republic town of Bambari. 78 people were reported to be dead and about 72 others sustained serious injuries.

Earthquake kills four and injures over a 100 in Central Philippines

CLASSIFICATION: Natural – Geophysical – Earthquake

DATE: 6 July 2017

WHERE: Philippines, Masarayao, Leyte

KILLED: 4

INJURED: 100

DISPLACED: Unknown

DESCRIPTION: Four people have been killed and over a 100 left injured after a 6.5 magnitude earthquake hit Central Philippines. The damage has displaced several people and left the city without power for several weeks.

DESCRIPTION: Monsoon rains and increased water levels since the beginning of July 2017 have caused heavy flooding and landslides across major parts of Myanmar, causing two reported deaths and displacing over a 100,000 people.

Flood kills 10 and displaces 71,000 people in China

CLASSIFICATION: Natural – Hydrological – Flood

DATE: 25 July 2017

WHERE: China, Yulin City, Nothern Shannxi

KILLED: 10

INJURED: Unknown

DISPLACED: 71,000

DESCRIPTION: At least 10 people have been reportedly killed following heavy rainfalls that resulted in the flood in Shaanxi northwestern province of China. According to reports, power supply and telecommunications have also been disrupted.

13 people killed in car accident in Pakistan

CLASSIFICATION: Technological – Transport accident – Road

DATE: 30 July 2017

WHERE: Pakistan, Punjab, Hassan Abdal

KILLED: 13

INJURED: Unknown

DISPLACED: None

DESCRIPTION: 13 people have been reportedly killed in a ghastly motor accident in the town of Hassan Abdal after passenger van collided with a truck before finally catching fire after hitting a gas pipeline.

Event classification:

This list is not an exhaustive list of all disaster events that occurred during the reporting period. This report contains a list of disasters as identified by our researchers. Events are included on this list if they meet any of the following criteria: